Expansible packing



2 MM/ W Y 4 Filed June 9. 1924 pandi'ng packin Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

unwm n. mrnnnn, or FULLERTON, camnonnra.

ExPANsmLE PACKING.

Application filed June 9, 1924. Serial No. 718,798.

This invention is a self expanding packing for pump plunger-s and thelike, and consists of the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

An object is to make a pump plunger having a self expandingpacking operated by the pressure to take up the wear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible, expansible packing, so constructed as to act as a valve permitting the fluid under pressure to pass behind the packing and force the same against the-wall of the cylinder, substantially with the same pressure as the fluid pumped, there being a port on either end of the acking, which is automatically opened as t e plunger is reciprocated.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings and specification.

The drawing illustrates a self expanding packing embodying the principles of my invention. I

Figure .1 is a fragmentary diametrical longitudinal sectional detail of a pump cyl- -inder and pump plunger having a self expanding packing. v Fig. 2 isv a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.8 is a cross section .on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end iew looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the self ex-' shown in Fig. 1, the view bein taken loo ing. in the direction indicate by the arrow 5. in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on thelllle 62-6 "----ofFigT an on a plane parallel .with Fig. 1.

The details of the self expanding packing and the pump plunger shown in the drawings are as follows:

The pump cylinder 1 and the plunger rod 2 may be of any of the usual constructions.

The plunger head 3 fits upon the tapered portion 4 of-the plunger rod 2. A sleeve 5 extends from the head 3 around the rod 2.

. Ports 6 are formed through the head 3 outside of the plane of the sleeve 5, and peripheral grooves 7 are formedlongitudinally in 5 the sleeve 5.

The self expanding packing 8 has a pcripheral bearing surface 9 adapted to fitin the cylinder 1, and has a flat end face 10 fitting against the side of the head 3 and covering the ports 6. The acking 8 has a flat face 11 at the opposite si e from the face ing outwardly from the longitudinal plane of the openings 12 and 13 and centrally located between the faces 10 and 11 to form the yielding walls 15 and 16. The entire soft rubber. Ribs 17 extend outwardly mm the sleeve 5 to fit in the opening 12 and'center the packing.

A second p unger'head 18 fits upon the small end of the plunger rod 2 and against the face 11 of the packing, and has ports 19 .covered by the wall 16, and a sleeve 20 extends from the head-18 and fits against the end of the sleeve 5 and has grooves 21 and ribs 22 corresponding to the grooves. 7 and ribs 17. Lock' nuts 23 and 24 are screwed upon the end of the plunger-rod 2 againstthe head 18.

.body of the packing is preferably. of 00d The packing 8 is to be squeezed between the heads 3 and 18, to secure a tight fit.

The operation is as follows:

When the plunger goes down in the direction indicated by the arrow 25, the fluid. pressure, either liquid or air, will pass thro-ugh the ports 19 against the face 11, the wall 16 will give towards the channel 14 and the pressure will passbetween the head 18 and the face 11 through the grooves 21 to the channel 14, andthe radial pressure in the channel 14 will expand the packing to press the peripheral-bearing surface 9 a ainst the inner face 26 of the cylinder 1, an the pressure will be exerted against the inner face of the wall 15 to close the ports 6. When the movement of the plunger is reversed, the pressure will pass through the ports 6, the wall 15 will give, and the pressure will hold the wall 16 to close the ports 19 and expand the packing against the face 26 of the cylinder, and this pressure will continually expand the packing a ainst the face of the cylinder until the pac ing is worn out.

Thus I have produced a pump plunger having packing adapted to be expanded by the pump pressure to take up the, wear on.

the packing, the plunger comprising a plungerrod, plunger heads upon the rod, apacking between the. lunger heads, there being ports through t e plunger heads to conduct pump pressure to the interior of the packing toex andthe packing, the packing ting hubs with a plurality of eing ada te to close the upper ports an a down stro e and the lower. ports on an upstroke. I

Various changes may be made without departing claimed.

I claim:

1. A pump lunger comprising a plunger rod, a pair 0 plunger heads having abuteripheral grooves formed therein mounted on said lunger rod, a flexible packer having an internal recess between flanges engaging the hubs of said plunger heads, there being a plurality of ports in each plunger head v adapted to conduct fluid within the pump cylinder to the internal recess in the flexible packer and nuts on said plunger rod for holding said plunger heads together.

2. Apump plunger comprising a plunger rod havinga tapered portion and a straight portion, a plunger head having a hub proecting from a flat face mounted on the tapered portion of said plunger rod, a second plunger head having a hub projecting from a flat face abutting the hub of the first plunger head and mounted on the straight portion of said plunger rod, a flexible packer having an internal recess between openings engagin the hubs of the first and second plunger eads and flatend faces engaging the flat faces of the first and second lunger heads, there being a plurality oi peripheral grooves in the hubs of from the spirit of the invention as and an expansible packing disposed between the heads having an internal annular recess defining flanges which cover said ports'and which bear against said means, there being passages formed in said means beneath said flanges.

4. A pump plunger comprising a plunger rod, a pair of headshaving ports therethrough secured to the plunger rod, said heads having projecting hubs disposed in I abutting relation about said plunger rod for .keeping the heads properly spaced thereon,

an expansible packing disposed between the heads having an internal annular recess formed thereon defining flanges which cover said ports and which bear against said hubs, 0 and means providing passages upon saidhubs beneath said flanges.

5. A head for plungers comprising a head having a projecting hub, there being apertures formed through the head and grooves formed on the peripheral surface of the hub as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' ERWIN E. 'MILLER. 

